AfriGeneas Discuss! Forum

I understand what you are saying. and, from a logical point of view your ideas are correct.

However, keep in mind that the USA system of slavery, rooted in European classcism, was not based on fair mindedness and logic.

The social system in this country prior to the Civil War was based on elite hierarchies, and was in itself a social system inherited from the European feudal system of Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Lords, Ladies, Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, Countesses, maids, butlers, cooks, nannies, serfs, and slaves.

In the Louisiana of 1860 (formerly a French colony), the free people of color (translated in French = "gens de couleur libres"), were a separate class from the slaves although both of them possessed African blood.

And, the very same thing was true of the "free people of color" in VA, MD, NC and SC, etc.
"Free people of color" were considered a separate "class" of people prior to the Civil War.

To become emancipated ("freed") prior to the Civil War did NOT always automatically (or necessarily, EVER) constitute an immediate transformation into a different "class".

While it is true that the emancipated person would immediately have legal "freedom", ...he/she would NOT necessarily have been looked upon by others,... within the context of that time period (era),... as a member of that higher class of people known as "free people of color"..

I think the concept of "class" is difficult for many of us present-day Americans to grasp during this current era of 2011.

We, as Americans, are quickly losing the significance of those elitist concepts,...and it does take some thought on our part, to redeem what we have lost as part of the fiber of our society'.

Because America is becoming a classless society, that type of thought is now looked upon by many as "old-fashioned" or "snobbish", or "bougie" from the word "bourgeoisie".